YouTube has shut down a number of right-wing channels connected to allegations from federal authorities, who claim that the media company managing the channels was funded by the Russian government to produce divisive and politically charged content.

In light of a Justice Department indictment and a thorough examination, the Google-owned platform confirmed the removal of “the Tenet Media channel and four channels run by its operator Lauren Chen as part of our ongoing initiative to address coordinated influence operations,” a YouTube spokesperson shared with YSL News via email on Friday.

This action by YouTube follows the unsealing of an indictment on Wednesday that accused Russian nationals Kostiantyn Kalashnikov, 31, known as Kostya, and Elena Afanasyeva, 27, referred to as Lena, of engaging in conspiracy to breach the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and conspiracy concerning money laundering.

“The Justice Department has charged two employees of RT, a state-controlled Russian media outlet, involving a $10 million scheme designed to create and disseminate content for U.S. audiences that concealed Russian government messaging,” remarked Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in a news release. “The Justice Department will not stand for attempts from an authoritarian regime to manipulate the free exchange of ideas in our country for its covert propaganda agenda, and our investigation into this incident is ongoing.”

YSL News reached out to Tenet Media on Friday but has yet to receive a reply. The court records did not list defense attorneys for Afanasyeva or Kalashnikov.

How did the RT employees orchestrate the $10 million scheme?

The 32-page indictment filed in New York’s Southern District states that RT, which was previously called Russia Today, is a media agency under state control, funded and overseen by the Russian government. Since at least 2023, RT and its personnel, including Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva, allegedly paid nearly $10 million to secretly finance and manage a Tennessee-based online content creation firm listed in the indictment as “U.S. Company-1.”

According to the indictment, U.S. Company-1 produced videos in English for various social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube. Since its public launch in November 2023, U.S. Company-1 has uploaded nearly 2,000 videos that collectively have accumulated over 16 million views on YouTube alone.

Most of the content published by U.S. Company-1 focuses on discussions about events and issues pertinent to the U.S., including topics like immigration, inflation, and other domestic and foreign concerns, the indictment states. The intention was to “enhance internal divisions within the U.S.” by openly promoting the goals of the Russian Government, the Justice Department adds.

Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva posed as editing team members at U.S. Company-1 and were involved in posting hundreds of videos, according to the Justice Department. From October 2023 through August 2024, RT allegedly transferred about $9.7 million to U.S. Company-1, which accounted for nearly 90% of U.S. Company-1’s total bank deposits from all sources, as noted in the indictment.

What is Tenet Media?

Founded in January 2022 by entrepreneur Lauren Chen, Tenet Media is a company that showcases various right-wing influencers.

“Tenet Media represents a network of diverse commentators focused on Western political and cultural matters,” as stated on their official website. “Our mission is to support creators who challenge institutions that believe they are exempt from scrutiny. We believe every current issue deserves a thorough and honest debate to reach the truth. For those seeking genuine coverage on significant topics, Tenet Media is the go-to place for fearless voices.”

While the indictment doesn’t explicitly name U.S. Company-1 as Tenet Media, several right-wing influencers associated with the channel have indicated that Tenet is indeed the company referenced in legal documents. Matt Christiansen, an influencer featured During a livestream on his YouTube channel addressing the controversy surrounding Tenet, Christiansen mentioned, “Right before going live, I got an email from the FBI requesting a voluntary interview because they consider me a victim of a crime,” he stated on the stream. “The FBI wants to have a conversation with me about this situation.”